Chapter 6

"I still can't believe that out of all the people in the world I choose to help me find Carter I chose you," complained Jack, wondering if he would regret asking Maybourne for help.

"Oh, come on Jack!" replied Maybourne. "Major Carter's life must be worth working with me!"

"You're definitely right. I guess when you put it that way I can't really argue, can I?"

They lapsed into silence.

"So, who is this X person?" Maybourne wanted to know.

"I don't know," said Jack. "That's why I refer to him as X."

"Right…Good point. Reminds me of Year Nine Math when you say it like that: Algebra 2."

Another awkward silence.

"So what are we going to do?" said Jack suddenly. "Are we going to shoot this guy or are we going to save Carter."

"Well, Jack, you know both paths are dangerous, so choose carefully," said Maybourne. "If we try to take Carter, we would have to plan very carefully; no mistakes."

Jack was well aware of what 'no mistakes' meant. "I never thought I'd say this," he said, "but what do you think we should do?"

"That's easy: I'd try and get her out of there!" replied Maybourne immediately. "But it is your decision. I am just along for the ride, remember?"

"Hey, do we even know where 'there' is?" Jack asked.

"No, we don't," said the ex-NID agent. "But their MO is like that of the Rouge NID, so if I get into the system, I can find out."

"What do you need?"

They pulled up outside an internet café. Maybourne jumped out and got down to business. Jack waited in his truck, and, a mere half an hour later, his 'partner' came back out, information printed on a sheet of paper.

"Are you done all ready?"

"Yeah. We need to go to this address." He read off the piece of paper that Maybourne had shoved at him.

They had been traveling for about four minutes when Jack suddenly said, "Did it seem a bit easy to find where she was?"

Maybourne frowned. "Yeah, that did occur to me."

Jack felt his emotions rising in his throat. They thought of this as a game, that's all. It was one huge game that was just too freaking real for those who didn't know the fine print, the rules and how to break them. He fought the emotions down, determined not to let Maybourne see him as jumpy as a jackass. Minutes later, he realized it hadn't worked too well.

"How are you holding up, Jack?" he asked, for once genuinely concerned. Jack didn't say anything, just kept on driving. "You do realize that half the NID know about the…thing you guys have between you." Jack was still silent. "Oh, come on! You didn't think they'd use it against you sooner or later? This is exactly why they have regulations in the Air Force."

"And you're an expert of upholding the rules, now, are you?" Jack snapped at him quickly, hands shaking on the wheel with fury. If he hadn't been driving, he would have kicked Maybourne's ass until blood came out of his nose.

"No, Jack, I'm not. I'm just saying that if your feelings are going to get in the way of your duties at Stargate Command, I think you should step back." He paused. "So something like this doesn't happen again. People get hurt in this game, Jack; I don't need to tell you that. Some day, somebody's gonna get killed, and it's going to hit you hard."

"Are you telling me…? Wha? I just-" Jack sighed, knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel. "Shut up, Maybourne." He was babbling, and he knew it. He got a quick glance at his partner's smug snicker. "My feelings don't get in the way of anything." Jack winced inside. Now, he was denying it: Sam was a hostage, thanks to him! And now here he was here denying her. Did she deserve this? No, she beeping well did not! Jack swerved to avoid hitting a truck, bringing him back to his senses.

"Of course." Unconvinced, Maybourne left the topic of conversation where it was. Safer, he considered, since Jack was in a bad mood and had a gun. He counted how many times Jack had threatened to shoot him and barely stifled a laugh. Two or three times, if his memory served. But, he was still alive and kicking, so it mustn't have been too sincere. However, he wasn't above doubting that Jack would shoot him in the future, so he promptly cut off his train of thought.

"This is the address," said Jack as he looked out from behind a dying bush. Maybourne had suggested that they park a distance away as to not be detected. "It should be this building right th…holy st!" Even his partner's mouth dropped open. The place was massive, at least the size of your average skyscraper. Looking around at the abandoned place, he noted that it was extremely dusty and dirty. He supposed that at the time that it was being built, the place would have looked very promising. Alas, no longer. The two continued to stare at the building.

"Did you give any thought to how we're going to get in and out?" Jack wanted to know, watching the guys with guns standing outside with sharp eyes.

"None."

"You're kidding, right?"

"You've got a gun, so all we have to do is go in and shoot everybody who comes in the way of us and Major Carter."

"Mm, yeah, that'll work(!)"

"I'm sure there's a back entrance we could use without –too much – resistance."

"To the back it is, then."

I would like to say a big, fat thankyou to Merry0742000, sammie77, allaboutthegate, SG1-Fanfic, sg1 huge fan, Nelarun, nogigglingmajor, becky207, 7 League Boots, scottiedog, The Last and Tashira Ronin for taking your time to review. I apreciate it big time. Next chapter coming soon, I hope. Thanks.